There is a lot of information to know in organic chemistry, but trying to memorize it all is not the key to success. Rather, you need to understand the concepts and know why certain steps happen the way they do. Understanding the reasoning behind steps within a reaction mechanism will allow you to reason your way through any problem without having to memorize each step.

Learn more: Using the Mechanisms app will help you develop mechanistic reasoning skills. If you make a common mistake, a hint will pop up and explain why that move does not happen. Each puzzle also comes with a video that explains the reaction.

Nucleophilicity, polarizability, tautomerization, oh my! Organic chemistry has a language of its own and it can be quite daunting at first. Understanding these words is the first key to success. Once you break through that first barrier and know what a nucleophile is and what it does, for example, you will be able to focus on the chemistry of the reactions..

Learn more: The vocabulary of organic chemistry is found throughout the Mechanisms app. You can learn many of the common words in the Intro Reactions pack which explains basic concepts you should know.

In organic chemistry, the curved arrows in mechanisms show the movement of electrons. Knowing how, where, and why electrons move is the key to reasoning your way through reaction mechanisms. Focusing on electrons also provides important insight into acids and bases and the stability of molecules.

Learn more: The best way to learn how electrons move, is to physically move them yourself. This is the philosophy behind the Mechanisms app. Opposed to drawing arrows, you actually move the electrons to form and break bonds.

The stability of molecules is what drives reactions. Reactions take the path of lowest energy to get to the most stable intermediates and products. Knowing which conjugate base, carbocation, or resonance structure is the most stable, is the key to understanding how reactions occur and which pathway leads to the major product.

Learn more: The Structure pack in Mechanisms app is a great place to start learning about resonance structures and stability of carbocations. Additionally, all of the puzzles in the app follow the principle of forming the most stable intermediates and products.

Practice, practice, practice. Practice is the biggest key to success in organic chemistry. Organic chemistry is not a subject you can simply read about to understand; you must do! Drawing out mechanism will help reinforce your mechanistic reasoning skills, using the language, understanding the movement of electrons, and the path of lowest energy, culminating in your success in organic chemistry.

Learn more: The Mechanisms app is a great way to practice! There are 260 puzzles for you to try. You can also check out our Student Resources page on our website for additional videos and reviews.